Chapter Two:

A/N: So I was about to delete this story, because I didn't know what to do with it. But then I re-read the reviews And I decided to continue it. Thank you a LOT for those reviews, they made me feel happy, and obviously encouraged me to continue hah. I'm not TOO tired yet because it's only six in the morning and I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight hah I shall just wait and sleep tomorrow night, so I'll keep updating for now, I suppose. I went for a jog too hahaha. I love it. It's like getting up early and being a morning person, only I haven't gone to bed yet haha. Am I really weird? Haha I think maybe.

--& Eric's POV &--

"Calleigh?" I call as I knock on her condo's door. Well, at this point, pound would be a more accurate word. I haven't talked to her in two days. It's been too much of a shock, I had to let it sink in, and I couldn't see her while I did that. I was afraid of what I might say, and god knows she didn't need to be hurt anymore than she already had been in the past 48 hours. The door suddenly swings open and I nearly fall back. I wasn't expecting that. I immediately step inside and embrace her in a hug. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault." She answers me coldly, shutting the door around me. As I take in her appearance, it makes me want to break down again. I've never seen her like this before. She still looked as beautiful as ever, just not in the way she usually did. Usually, she had a certain calm, collected, superior beauty about her. Professional, would be another way to describe it. Perfect, even. But now, she looked anything but. Her red and swollen eyes fit perfectly with her tearstained cheeks and he had never seen her dressed so casually in a rather sheer robe and a pale chemise.

"I know… I just…" I tried to explain.

"It's okay Eric, I get it." She told me. "Did you come here for a specific reason?" Obviously she wasn't in a mood for socializing, and that was understandable. She had just lost her husband, after all.

"I was just checking to make sure you didn't need anything. You have to take care of yourself still, you know." I reminded her.

"Why do you care? And what's it to you if I take care of myself?" She shot at me. That was low. She has to know I cared about her as more than my best friends girlfriend? We'd always been closer than that.

"Sorry, it's just, I always considered you a close friend…" I told her, and instantly her hard gaze softened, "And you aren't just taking care of yourself anymore, remember that." I told her and then turned to leave. I got the feeling she didn't really want me there.

"Eric, I'm sorry." She told me, and I turned back around to face her. She looked, if possible, more broken than before.

"It's okay." I sigh.

"I'm just so… angry, so defensive. You remind me of him and that makes me nervous, I guess." She shrugged, another tear slipping down her cheek. "Eric, I don't know if I can do this." She whispered.

"Cal," I sigh, and wrap my arms around her in a hug. Something I've been longing to do for two days now. I hold her as she sobs into my shoulder. "You can do this. And you won't have to do it alone. I'm here for you. Always. And the rest of the team is too. Horatio, Alexx… heck, I'm sure the whole lab and the whole PD's office is here for you." I try to lighten the mood a tinge.

"Yeah." I feel her strain a smile, and that breaks my heart all over again. This was the girl who would brighten my day at six in the morning at a triple homicide scene by smiling at me, and now she couldn't force a smile midday at a joke. The life was draining out of her at the very time when she should have been glowing; there was more life inside of her than ever before. But he took it all away from her. A man we thought we knew so well. We didn't know him at all. Not if he could do this.

"I promise you Cal," I continued, "There is no way I am leaving you to do this alone. No way in hell."

"Eric, I wouldn't want to impose…" She protested.

"No way in hell I am leaving you alone now." I repeat. This time she doesn't protest. Whether it's from lack of reason to, or lack of energy to, it doesn't matter to me. She couldn't force me out of her life now even if she wanted to.

"Well, in that case would you mind running to the store?" She asks, pulling out of the embrace we'd been sharing.

"Not one bit. Cravings?" I smile.

"You seem to know a lot about pregnancy." She tells me with a questioning look.

"Three older sisters." I answer. She nods with a skeleton of a smile on her face.

"Cookie dough ice-cream, please." She tells me.

"Coming right up. I'll be back in ten minutes?" I tell her.

"I'll make some coffee." She nods.

"But none for you." I remind her, and she rolls her eyes.

"I'm not stupid, Eric." She tells me, "I know all the rules, and I already took my vitamins." How did she know I was about to ask that?

"I'll see you in ten." I repeat before I'm out the door. We both know I'll probably speed and be back in five, because we both know I worry about her being alone in her state. I pause for a moment outside her closed door, and I hear her slide to the floor behind it.

"You screwed up Speed, and I'm not going to waste my time crying over you. Not anymore." And I leave, before another tear can makes its way down my face. No way in hell.

--&

A/N: Less confusing? Gosh I hope so. So Speed was the father/husband. And do not fear, I LOVE Speed. I didn't plan on it being him, but I didn't want to do a whole background story on some random character hah, and there's no way I am writing a story in which Calleigh married Hagen. Yuck. It'll get more Speed friendly soon. I love him, never fear. Please review!